It may feel like we don’t see the sun much in the Pacific NW, but Oregon is a surprisingly good zone for solar power. Solar electric panels or solar water heaters are both viable options with state and federal incentives. If you still haven’t visited carboncounter.org to see how much CO2your energy usage creates, take a moment to calculate it now. If you think sunny days are wonderful now, imagine if the rays were also generating power for your home.
Going solar may be easier than you think. Two solar options are thermal/solar water (which includes radiant floor heating) and photovoltaic/solar electric. Since hot water is the third largest energy user behind heating and cooling, a solar hot water unit can pay itself off quickly. Get information on both solar options online through Portland’s Office of Sustainable Development, who will mail you a packet of solar info tailored to your needs. Their example shows the average solar hot water system has a final cost of about $3,800, reduced from $8,000 through Federal and Oregon tax credits and an incentive from Energy Trust. Solar Oregon has classes and resources for going solar.